Anterior Tibular Filbulia Ligament avulsion

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Hi 4 weeks ago I had an accident on my ankle and results of CT showed a complete rupture of the Anterior Tibulia Fibula Ligament and took some talus bone with it.

They are not wanting to operate and I've been in a boot with crutches I'm still in serious pain and bearing a little weight kills me . Am I prolonging my healing by hobbling around on my boot and crutches or am I supposed to be immobilised 24/7 with leg elevated ? It doesn't feel like it's getting any better. And I'm worried that being on my foot is making it worse?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello Kate, sorry about your injury. Your doctor didn't tell you if you were weight bearing or not? If you are non weight bearing you could do more damage.

    I hope you feel better.

    • Posted

      Thank you for your reply . I haven't been told from the get go to not weight bare and at times I have which was excruciating the surgeon said u can begin to weight bare a little bit last week and I have been doing so more than I can tolerate so having heaps of pain meds . It's hard as I'm a single mum of 3 to be off it all the time and use crutches 24/7 but being up and about even on crutches foot is very very painful. I just wonder if I'm pro longing it's healing cause I'm not off it 24/7 or am I meant to be in serious pain just getting through using crutches and boot. It's been 4 and a half weeks and not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel. And how long I will be like this, as I'm due to go back to do the last term of my diploma in Beauty Therapy in a week And work in the clinic for my log books and do exams and lots of assignments and at this point standing up for an hour is unbareable without serious pain meds. I can barely think to work out what's for dinner and make shopping lists! Ahhhh. How long do these injuries take until u can at least do some weight baring without being in agony?
    • Posted

      Hello Kate: It does not seem that you have been well advised about your injury. I am not a doctor but I fractured my ankle in a few places and severely damaged my ankle ligament. I was operated on ten days after the injury on January 9 of this year. Are you sure you do not need surgery? Even though I do not fully comprehend the nature of your ankle injury, it sounds like your injury may require at least physical therapy. At the very least, please get another opinion and inquire about getting some professional medical care before starting to put weight on injured leg. Because if you need some corrective action on your ankle before weight bearing, you may me doing more damage by putting weight on your injured leg prematurely. It sounds you are a busy person and this is more reason to get professional medical care immediately before taking risks with your ankle. I hope you will get better and be on your way to full recovery. Nick
    • Posted

      Thank you they said no surgery for a ATFL avulsion needed treated as a high grade ankle sprain . RICE and see a physio at a later date . I'm going back Tuesday to ask more questions to the surgeon as I don't feel I've been taken care of at all. And I made another appointment for a private specialist opinion on Thursday . I'm in agony and thinking I don't think I'm going to be able to finish my diploma sad
  • Posted

    Hi Kate, u should tell the doctor that u think its getting worse and try to stay off it as much as u can and try to keep your foot elevated cause if u dont it can get worse. U should also ask the doctor if theres any stronger pain meds and put ice on it to numb it. I hope u get better soon instead of being in a lot of pain and crutches.

     

  • Posted

    Ankle injuries take a relatively long time to heal. Also, one has to recognize that health comes before the profession. Taking care of your ankle by receiving proper medical care including therapy and by icing and elevating leg should trump work and education. Your health is most important in the long run. You will achieve your professional and diploma goals, but take proper care for healing first and foremost, healing will come later. Ankle injuries take a lot of patience and tolerance. Also watch out for those pain killers. They are addictive. I will see my general practitioner next week to see how to get off the norco which I am now addicted to. Best wishes. Nick
    • Posted

      Yes you are absolutely right, doctors been blowing me off since this happened, I think pushing myself to the extreme is prob a bad idea just doing simple things for a short time and I suffer big time then have to have endone. I can only have 2.5 mg twice a day or that stuff gives me panic attacks . Which is morphene I believe . Think I'm already hooked on sleeping pills to be able to sleep at night. Which will be a problem . I try not have the morphene cause I don't need to be hooked on that too but can't get by without it last few days. I'm so sorry your now stuck on that stuff. I smoke cigarettes which I've tried so hard to quit and have horrible withdrawals I can only imagine how hard it would be to get off that stuff. I no when my brother was in rehab for drinking they gave him a withdrawal medicine to help. I'm guessing gradually cutting down your dose each few days or week even gradually may help. Thank you so much for your information . I've been reading on google these injuries can take months and lots of rehab to use foot again. Worse than a broken bone takes longer . . I don't no how people survive financially having to be off work for so long not to mention keeping up with daily stuff on their own.
    • Posted

      Sleep is very important for healing. Norco caused me anxiety and depression and I saw a psychiatrist for that and she gave me a medicine that I take once a day along with two 5 mg of Norco before bed. Now I am getting lots of rest and sleep without any anxiety or depression. I limit my work to 6 hours per day. I rest my ankle once every one or two hours at the most. My income is now half regular pay and took a loan to cover rest of expenses. I know I can catch up later. Next week I start load bearing and my customer (I am self- employed) will hire me full time two weeks from today. The Lord will always take care of you. Best to you. Nick

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